The San Francisco 49ers faced a tough challenge against the Seattle Seahawks in a critical matchup, ultimately falling 13-3 at Levi”s Stadium. This defeat not only dampened their playoff hopes but also allowed the Seahawks to secure the NFC West title and the top seed in the playoffs.
Despite a promising run since their bye week, the 49ers” offense struggled significantly, managing only a single 48-yard field goal from Eddy Piñeiro just before halftime. Tight end George Kittle reflected on the performance, stating, “It”s kind of hard to expect to really win the game if we”re not going to score more than a field goal. Shout out to Eddy, though. Thank you for making it.”
With a record of 12-5, the 49ers will need to regroup as they prepare for their wild-card matchup next week. They must now face the possibility of heading into the playoffs without a home game, depending on the outcomes of other teams.
The absence of key players like left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. due to injuries was a setback for the 49ers. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan emphasized that missing personnel should not become an excuse, especially after a season filled with such challenges.
Despite Seattle”s struggles with field goals, the 49ers failed to capitalize on opportunities to mount a comeback. A critical moment arose when defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos could not recover a fumble during a handoff exchange between Sam Darnold and Zach Charbonnet. Furthermore, a swing pass intended for Christian McCaffrey slipped through his hands, falling into the possession of Seattle”s Drake Thomas at a pivotal moment in the game.
Seattle”s defense was relentless, limiting McCaffrey to just 23 yards on eight carries, while the team as a whole managed only 53 rushing yards. Shanahan acknowledged the Seahawks” defensive prowess, noting, “We knew they had a good defense in Week 1. We had a couple of opportunities I thought we missed. And you can”t miss those versus a team like that.”
Quarterback Brock Purdy, who had shown improvement since returning from injury, completed 19 of 27 passes for 127 yards but was sacked three times. The Seahawks” defense proved effective, forcing the 49ers into difficult third-down situations, where they converted only 2 of 9 attempts.
Leonard Williams, a key player in Seattle”s defensive lineup, expressed confidence in the team”s performance, stating, “I don”t have any doubt in any part of this team. Our defense has been playing lights-out all season.” This assertion was evident as the Seahawks dominated the field, outpacing the 49ers significantly in both rushing attempts and time of possession.
Right tackle Colton McKivitz acknowledged the Seahawks” strength, admitting, “They were better than us today. We didn”t play our best ball.” The Seahawks” strategy mirrored what the 49ers have often employed, focusing on a strong ground game that saw them rush for 180 yards on 39 carries.
As the 49ers prepare for the playoffs, they remain hopeful for improvement and a chance to rebound. Purdy stated, “We always feel that there are plays left out there and we could have converted. We just didn”t.” Kittle, despite the disappointment, remains optimistic, saying, “The good news is I get to play football next week.”
